Multiple yarn package take-up

ABSTRACT

Multiple package filament winding apparatus having at least two take-up positions placed right and left as a pair, arranged for taking up yarns alternately, fed by a traversing roller which has two traversing slots separated right and left, and two alternately crossing transfer slots, each of which connects into each of the traversing slots.

United States Patent Ito et a1.

[54] MULTIPLE YARN PACKAGE TAKE-UP [72] Inventors: Shoji Ito, Inazawa; Kotaro Fuiioka, Nagoya; Mitsuhiro Okamoto, Nagoya; Tetsuya Kikuchi, Nagoya,

all of Japan [73] Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc., Japan [22] Filedi Nov. 5, 1970 [211 Appl. No.: 87,182

Tokyo,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 19, 1969 Japan ..44/9211S [52] US. Cl. ..242/l8 A, 242/432 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 54/02 [58] Field of Search...242ll8 A, 18 DD, 35.5 R, 43.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Abbott ..242/ 18 A UX 51 Sept. 12,, 1972 3,083,923 4/ 1963 5 Taylor, Jr. ..242/ 19 2,296,339 9/1942 Daniels .242/18 A UX I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 630,531 1 1/1961 Great Britain ..242/1 8 A 1,100,868 11/1955 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein Attorney-Paul & Paul [5 7] ABSTRACT Multiple package filament winding apparatus having at least two take-up positions placed right and left as a pair, arranged for taking up yarns alternately, fed by a traversing roller which has two traversing slots separated right and left, and two alternately crossing transfer slots, each of which connects into each of the traversing slots.

3 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures Germany ..242/ 18 A PMENTEDsEP 12 m2 sum 1 or 7 INVENTORS. SHOJI ITO, KOTARO FUJIOKA,

MITSUHIRO OKAMOTO and TETSUYA KIKUCHI ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED SEP 12 I972 SHEET 2 OF 7 PATENIEIJSEP 12 I972 SHEET 3 IIF 7 SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY TRANSFER STARTING SIGNAL DRIVING MEANS OF SHIFT LEVER NON-CONTACT RETAINING CIRCUIT NON- CONTACT AMPLIFIER ELECTROMAGNETIC PICK UP PATENTED SEP 12 1912 SHEET 5 BF 7 PATENTED SEI 12 m2 SHEET 6 [1F 7 PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 SHEET 7 OF 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multiple yarn package take-up, and more particularly to an apparatus for winding yarns on at least two packages alternately.

According to this invention a winding operation is effected wherein two take-up positions are used right and left as a pair, and when the bobbin or package of one of the take-up positions becomes full, the continuously running yarn of filament is transferred to the empty bobbin or package of the other take-up position of the pair, whereupon the same yarn or filament is immediately taken up on the empty package or bobbin. In this manner the winding operation is alternately carried out from the left take-up position to the right take-up position, and from the right take-up position to the left take-up position. The operator, of course, cuts the yarn and doffs each full bobbin at any time while the other bobbin is winding. Dual type filament winding apparatus has been proposed before, but there are a number of technical difficulties in accurately transferring the running yarn from one take-up position to the other. Difficulties are also experienced in the automatization of the operation of such winders, even at relatively slow speeds.

On the other hand, it is economically desirable and at times even necessary to provide an extremely highspeed windingoperation. According to this invention, the running speed of the running yarn is further improved, and a remarkably fine transferring mechanism is achieved. Thus, the present invention removes the above mentioned drawbacks that are inherent in the prior art, and provides for the first time known to applicants a fully satisfactory winder which satisfies the aforementioned requirements.

In particular, this invention provides a transfer mechanism which is capable of accurately engaging the continuously running filament onto the traverse guide on the side of the empty bobbin to continuously start a stable traverse, as it is necessary, and capable of assuring immediate filament winding after the filament has been caught on and engaged by the traverse guide.

For example, a dual type filament winder is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,923 to Taylor, but it has the drawback that, when a running filament is transferred to the side of the empty bobbin, while the traverse guide sometimes accurately catches the running filament, it fails more often than not. Further, when it succeeds in catching the running filament, yarn breakage often follows. Indeed, the above mentioned conventional art has such serious drawbacks that the traverse guide cannot reliably catch the funning filament SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multiple position filament winder, and more in particular, provides a practical multiple yarn package take-up apparatus which is capable of reliably transferring a continuously running filament from the full bobbin position to the empty bobbin position and for winding the running filament on the empty bobbin immediately and continuously.

The apparatus according to this invention is useful for winding any textile or other filamentary material, including yarn or tow, or similar elongated flexible materials. While both multifilament and monofilament yarns and other materials are readily wound by the apparatus according to this invention, the termffilament is used in the specification and claims in the interest of brevity, and is intended to be generic to all windable materials made up of or containing one or more filaments.

The winder of the present invention, when used as a dual winder, comprises the following elements:

a. two take-up positions arranged right and left as a pair, each including the following elements:

a-l. a bobbin for taking up the filament, a-2. means for rotating said bobbin b. a traversing roller extending between the takeup positions and having the following elements:

b-l. two endless traversing slots for traversing the filament b-2. two alternately crossed transfer slots for connecting the two traversing slots 0. driving means for rotating the traversing roller in a predetermined direction,

(I. a traversing center guide,

e. driving means for alternately shifting the traversing center guide to bring'the filament into communication with said two take-up positions.

Further, one end of each of the two transfer slots is connected to each of said two traversing slots through a tail-catching slot. I

Further, one end of one of the said two transfer slots is connected to the two traversing slots through a tailcatching slot, and the tail-catching slot is connected on the opposite side to the other of the two transfer slots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a winder comprising an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1, partially cut off and shown in section in order more clearly to reveal important details;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1, with the rolls removed and in the same positions as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a surface development, showing as a flat plane the cylindrical surface of the traversing roller of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the traversing I roller of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the winder of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1 1;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the device of FIG. 11, with portions cut away and shown in section in order to reveal important details;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are diagrams showing the mechanism of an in-out guide according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a full bobbin (1) containing a yarn package (2) is rotatably mounted on a spindle (3) which is supported by a pivotally mounted arm (4). The arm (4) is pivotally mounted on a shaft (5) attached to a base (6).

An empty bobbin (7) is rotatably mounted on a spindle (8) which is supported by a pivotally mounted arm (9).

The arm (9) is pivotally mounted on a shaft (10) attached to a base (1 l Behind the bobbins (1) and (7 and frictionally engaging the bobbin surfaces is a common drive roller (12) which is extended over and opposed to both of the bobbins (1) and (7).

The drive roller is mounted on a shaft (13) rotated by driving means (14) of a well known type mounted on the machine.

A traverse guide means and means to shift the thread line (15) are provided above the bobbins (l) and (7). .The traverse guide is composed of a traversing roller (16) and conventional driving means (18) for rotating said shaft (17 in a predetermined direction.

The traversing roller (16), as shown, has four slots on the periphery thereof. One of those slots is a traversing slot system (19) formed endlessly with a width cor responding to the traverse width for the bobbin (1) on the left portion of the traversing roller (16). Another slot is the traversing slot system (20) formed endlessly with a width corresponding to the traverse width for the bobbin (7) on the right side of the traversing roller (16). Another slot is the transferring slot system (21) one end of which is connected to the traversing slot (19), and the other end of which is connected to the traversing slot (20), and said slot (21) is used when filament is transferred from the traversing slot system (19) to the traversing slot system (20). The remaining slot is the transferring slot system (22) one end of which is connected to the traversing slot (20) and the other end of which is connected to the traversing slot (19). Slot (22) is used when filament is transferred from the traversing slot system (20) to the traversing slot system 19). I

Said slots (21) and (22) are formed symmetrically right and left with the intersection (23) of said slot (21) and the slot (22) as the fulcrum.

The means to shift the thread line (15) is composed of a shift lever (24) and driving means (25) for swingthe other end thereof is connected to said driving means 25) so as to receive a swinging motion.

The shift lever (24) is swung and stopped by the driving means (25) in such a manner that the traversing center guide (26) will be placed either in a position directly above the center of the traverse width of the bobbin (1), or directly above the center of the traverse width of the bobbin (7 The pivot center (28) of the shift lever (24) is located directly above the intersection (23) of the slots (21) and (22). On the end surfaces of bobbins (1) and (7), the slots (29) and (30) are provided for catchingfilaments.

The wires (31) and (31) each'having a weight as shown at (32) are connected to the arms (4) and (9), and serve to urge the bobbins (l) and (7 continuously against the surface of the drive roller (12).

The operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 3 of this invention will now be described. 7

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2-, the thread line (15) coming down from the spinneret or other source of supply (not shown) passes through the traversing guide (26) and then through the traversing slot system (19) from which it passes around the bobbin (1) while continuously traversing the length of the bobbin (1) to wind a full package thereon.

The bobbin (1) is driven by the drive roller (12) in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2.

Before the start of the transfer step, an empty bobbin (7) is (manually or automatically) moved from the inoperative position shown in FIG. 3 into its operative position adjacent to the full bobbin (1) so as to be driven by the drive roller (12) at the same peripheral speed as the full bobbin (1 When the package (2) has reached a predetermined size or when the winding operationhas been carried out for a predetermined time, the shift lever (24) is shifted to the right into the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. By the shifting of the shift lever (24) the filament traversing along the traversing slots system (19) arrives at the traversing slot system (20), through the transfer slot (21). The thread line (15) then enters into the traversing slot system (20), and the thread is continuously traversed the length of the bobbin (7) and is wound up thereon. When the right hand bobbin (7) becomes full, the above described operation is reversed. An empty bobbin is positioned adjacent to the new full bobbin, and the thread line is passed from right to left to repeat the above described procedure using the transferring slot system (22).

In the foregoing manner, the process of 'winding is carried out continuously and uninterruptedly with no need to stop the running of the filament while dofling a full bobbin.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the ground plan development of the peripheral length (2 11 R) of the roller whose radius is R, and in an actual roller, the line X-X and the lineYY are exactly coincident.

The left hand traversing slot system (19) is formed endlessly on the peripheral surface of the traversing roller (16) with the leftwardly inclined slot (51) and the rightwardly inclined slot (52) in correspondence to the traverse width (A).

On the other hand, the right hand traversing slot system (20) is formed endlessly on the peripheral surface of the traversing roller (16) with the rightwardly inclined slot (53) and the leftwardly inclined slot (54) in correspondence to the traverse width (B). i

Further, the transfer slot system (21) which functions in a manner to connect the right hand connecting point (55) of the slots (51) and (52) to the left hand connecting point (56) of the slots (53) and (54), is provided with a width (C). Also, it is formed with a tailcatching slot (58) attached on the rightwardly inclined slot (57).

Moreover, the transfer slot system (22) is formed with a tail-catching slot (60) attached to the leftwardly inclined slot (59).

The transfer slots (21) and -(22) intersect one another centrally of the transfer. width (C), to form the intersection (23). I

The traversing roller is, as shown, of hollow construction with the slots (19), (21) and (22) extending through the outer cylindrical shell to the inner hollow space. Inside of the traversing roller (16) a number of bottoming pins (61) are fixed on the side plates on both ends of the roller (16) and extend from one end to the other, parallel to one another and to the axis of rotation. A row of the bottoming pins .(61) is provided at predetermined intervals at a common radius within the outer shell.

On the other hand, at the-return points of the above described slots, radial pins (62) are projected radially from the outer shell of the roller (16) toward the axis of rotation. The ends of pins (62) terminate closer to the axis of rotation than the row of the above described bottoming pins (61) and thus serve as positive stops preventing movement of the filament beyond the pins 61.

In regard to the actual structure of the bottoming pins (61) and the radial pins (62), they may be constructed along the lines disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,801,808 to Gilbert. 1

The following explanation concerns the relationship between the respective slots and filaments, reference being made to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

Filament (l5) enters from the point (E) of the slots, and contacts and bears upon the surfaces of the bottoming pins (61), and comes out from the point (F,) of the slot, and is taken up on either bobbin l) or (7).

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the filament on the entrance side (E) is traversed along and in contact with the straight line portion (e,)(e and (e )-(e and the filament on the outlet side (F) is traversed along the line (f )-(f )(f;,) and (f )(f )(f It is preferable that the angle (P formed by the straight line (e,)(e and the axis of the roller in the developed diagram, should be more than a predetermined angle to prevent overstepping of the filament.

It is preferable that angle (P should be more than 60 when the traverse width is more than 150 mm, although it may change depending on the denier of the filaments, traverse width, traverse speed, take-up speed and other factors.

The angle (P,) can be as large as possible, but its upper limit is limited by the diameter of the roller.

The angle (P formed by the straight line 1mg and the axis of the roller in FIG. 4 is made smaller than the other filament guiding surface, is that said portion corresponds to the neighborhood of the return point of the filament when traverse is carried out, and therefore the traverse speed in said portion is made faster than in other portions.

Thus, increase of the filament winding density which might otherwise occur on both end portions of the package can be prevented. v

On the other hand, the width of certain portions of the transfer slot is increased at the intersection (23). In FIG. 4 this occurs at a portion of the transfer slot (21) shown by the reference numeral (63) and a part of the transfer slot (22) shown by the reference numeral 64). Further, the angle (P formed with the axis of the roller is reduced on the side to which filament istransferred. This is because the traverse of the filament from the slot (57 to the slot (63) or from the slot (59) to the slot (64) at the intersection, is thereby made accurate.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the dimension of the intersection (23) is determined so as to place the traversing center guide (26) in the extension of a line connecting the point (g and the point (g when said guide (26) is in its extreme right-hand position'as illustrated in dash lines in FIG. 1.

In. addition, the slot width of the tail-catching slot (58) or (60) is preferably narrower than the other slots. This enhances the fixation of the filament onto the groove for catchingtail on the bobbin.

The interval (1,) or (1 between the terminal of the traverse width and the tail-catching slot (58) or (60) can be optionally selected according to the desired interval between the end portion of the package and the groove for catching the tail.

It is preferable that the distance between the peripheral surface of the roller and the effective filament engaging surface formed by the bottoming pins (61) should be as deep as possible; generally speaking, it is preferable that this distance should be more than 30 mm.

The following is an explanation in accordance with FIG. 6 about the preferable conditions under which the process for transferring filamentis carried out.

FIG. 6 is a diagram similar to FIG. 4 showing the developed plan of the traversing roller (16). Indeed, there is no substantial difference from the developed plan of FIG. 4, but in FIG. 6, the phases of development are displaced to further illustrate the present invention.

In FIG. 6 the case is taken as an example in which a filament is transferred from the right hand traversing slot system slots (53) and (54) to the left hand traversing slot system.

The traverse center guide (26) is transferred to the left hand, passing through intermediate points (I), (II) and (III), and the filament enters into the transfer slot (59) from the intersection (56), but when the filament arrives at the intersection (23), the traverse center guide (26) has already passed by the point (III), which point is located perpendicularly above the intersection (23).

If the swinging of the traverse center guide (26) toward the left is delayed in passing the point (III) with respect to the filament so that the filament earlier reaches the intersection (23), the filament then does not go through the transfer slot (59) straight. Because of the tension of the traverse center guide (26) it misruns to the side of the transfer slot (63), or it is removed from the transfer slot (59), in a manner to cause misrunning.

Therefore, in order to make the transferring more precise and reliable, it is preferable that the movement of the shift lever (24) should be adjusted so that the filament is caused to pass through the intersection (23) after the traversing center guide (26) has passed by the position (III) perpendicularly above the intersection (23).

Practically, it is preferable to adjust the moving speed of the traversing center guide in the axial direction of the traversing roller, so that it is greater than the moving speed of the filament in the axial direction of said roller at the slot of the traversing roller.

Next, the preferable conditions under which the filament at the traversing slots (53) and (54) enters the transfer slot (59), are explained in accordance with FIG. 6.

The traversing center guide (26) is at the position (I) above the center of the traverse width (B) of the right hand traversing slot system, and moves in the direction of(II) at the speed of(V,).

When it is presumed that the moving speed of the filament at the position (a) perpendicularly below the traversing center guide 26), is (V,), the filament does not misrun at the intersection (56) of the respective slots 54), (53), (59) and (58) accurately into the slot (59), and it is transferred into the transferring-slot system (22), under the condition represented by the following formula:

If the relation between V, and V is as is given below the filament at the traversing slot (54) arrives at the intersection (56) before the traversing center guide (26) arrives at the position (ll) above the crossing. point (56), and it does not move toward the transfer slot by means of the tension working on the traversing center guide (26), but tends to misrun toward the traversing slot (53).

Thus, at the point in time when the filament has entered the traversing slot (53), if the traversing center guide (26) passes by the position (II) perpendicularly above the crossing point (56), the tension working on the filament becomes more than twice as great because the direction in which the filament moves at the traversing slot (53) are opposite, and therefore yarn breakage is very likely to be brought about, depending upon the tensile strength of the filament.

Therefore, when the filament is located at the position (a) of the traversing slot (54), there is no basis to fear that the filament should misrun and at the same time there is no fear that yarn breakage should be brought about, but the transfer of filament can be made accurately from the right hand traversing slot system (20) to the transferring slot system (22) if the relation between V and V, is as follows:

Further, in FIG. 6, when transfer is carried out from the point (b), it will be understood that the relation between V and V should be as follows:

When transferring is carried out from the point (c), the relation should be as follows:

When transferring is carried out from the point (d), it should be as follows:

The velocity (V of the filament 'in the axial direction of the traversing roller at the traversing slot of the traversing roller can be obtained in the following manner:

wherein N is the speed of revolution of the traversing roller (rpm); L is the transferred distance of the filament in the axial direction along the traversing roller; n is the number of revolutions of the traversing roller required for moving the filament through the distance L.

As described before, when the filament transferred passes by the point (a), it is necessary that the following relation be satisfied:

The moving velocity (V,) of the traversing center guide can be determined accordingly.

However, it is noteworthy that when V is too great, although the above described relation might be satisfied, I the filament tends to overstep from the traversing slot.

Next, the following is an explanation of another embodiment of filament winding apparatus of the present invention in accordance with FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

The embodiment as is shown in FIG. 7 is of the type created especially by-taking into consideration the relation between the direction in which the traversing filament moves and the direction in which the traversing center guide moves in transferring the filament.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a detector terminal is provided on the side surface of the traversing roller (16) and the detector faces against said side surface.

In FIG. 7, the filament (15) passes through the traversing center guide (26), and is traversed by the traversing slot system (19) of the traversing roller (16), and is contacted against the drive roller (12) to be taken up on the bobbin (1) to form the package (2).

The transfer of the filament (15) is carried out by moving the traversing center guide (26) in the right hand direction, and the filament (15) passes through the transfer slot system (21) from the left hand traversing slot system (19), and moves to the right hand traversing slot system (20), and immediately thereafter, it is taken up on the empty bobbin (7).

When the filament is transferred from one take-up portion to the other take-up portion, if there is an improper relation between the timing for starting the movement of the traversing center guide (26) in the axial direction and the position of the filament traversing through the traversing slot system (19), the filament oversteps the traversing slot system (19) or 20) and misruns.

Referring to FIG. 4, this is apt to happen when the angle (4:) [alpha] between traversing center guide (26), the outer extremity (e -f of traversing slots (51) and (52) and the surface of roller 16, at the point of its intersection with filament (15), is relatively small.

Therefore, in order to prevent overstepping of filament from the slot as described above, in the device of FIG. 7, the traversing center guide (26) is arranged to be started at the point in time when the direction in which the traversing center guide (26) moves and the direction in which the filament moves on the traversing roller (16) become the same, or in other words, at the point in time when the filament is present on the traversing slot (52) or (54), wherein the direction in which the traversing roller is rotated is in the direction as is shown by the arrow in FIG. 4.

Therefore, a detector terminal (72) such as a projection or an aperture is provided in the vicinity of the inlet opening (71) opened on the side end surface (70) of the traversing roller (16), and an electro-magnetic pick up (73) is provided in correspondence to a predetermined position on the trace of rotation of said detector terminal (72). v

The passing of the detector terminal (72) is detected with the electro-magnetic pickup (73), and the output signal coming therefrom is amplified with the non-contact amplifier circuit (74) as is shown in the block diagram of the synchronizing circuit as is shown in FIG. 8, and is sent to the non-contact retaining circuit (75).

When the package has reached a predetermined size, the transfer starting signal (76) is sent to the non-contact retaining circuit (75) and is awaited, on the other hand said output signal coming from the electro-magnetic pickup (73) enters and when the above two signals correspond with each other, the signal for transferring the traversing center guide (26) is sent to the driving means (25) of the shift lever (24) from the noncontact retaining circuit (75 The driving means (25) having received the signal moves the traversing center guide (26) to the predetermined position of the other traversing slot system at a velocity faster than the speed of movement of the filament of the traversing roller.

Next, another embodiment of the dual type filament winding apparatus of the present invention is explained in accordance with FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

The difference between the apparatus as is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, from the apparatus as is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, resides in the manner in which the slot of the traversing roller is provided.

In the diagram (15) is filament, and (26) is the traversing center guide, and is fixed on the belt (81). The belt (81) is wound on pulley (84) attached to the output rotary (83) of a servomotor (82) having the mechanism for controlling the output torque by means of the input signal which becomes the control signal, and it can be moved right and left by the frictional drive thereof.

(85) is the traverse roller; (1) and (7) are bobbins; (12) is the drive roller for surface driving the bobbins (1) and (7).

The filament (15) passes through the traversing center guide 26) moving right and left, and is taken up on the bobbin (1) through the traversing slot (which is explained in detail in FIG. 10) of the traverse roller (85).

When the bobbin becomes full, the traversing center guide (26) is transferred in the right hand direction to shift the filament, and the traversing center guide (26) is stopped at position (I) which appears in- FIG. 9 and which is directly above the central position of the right hand take-up portion, and thereby the filament (15) moves to the right hand traverse slot system through the right hand tail-catching slot and the transferring slot system from the left hand traverse slot system, and is taken up continuously on the bobbin (7 On the other hand, when the filament 15) is switched over to the left hand traverse slot system from the right hand traverse slot system, the traversing center guide (26) is transferred as far as position (IV) above the left hand tail-catching slot by passing beyond the left hand traverse slot system from the position (I), and thus the filament (15) passes through the right hand traverse slot system (B), the transfer slot system (C) and the left hand traverse slot (A), and is moved to the left hand tail-catching slot (A When the filament (15 is taken up to the extent of a predetermined length by said tail-catching slot, the traversing center guide (26) continuously enters the left hand traverse slot system (A) by transferring said traversing centerguide (26) to position (V) above the central portion of the left hand traverse slot system, and the filament is taken up on the bobbin (1 Before discussing the traversing roller (85) of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9, the explanation about the traversing roller (16) as is shown in FIG. 4 is given in the following paragraphs.

The traversing roller (16) as is shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the traversing slots (19) and (20) through the tail-catching slots (58) and (60), and in' regard to the relation between the tail-catching slot (58) and the tail-catching slot (60), one of them is connected to the left hand side of the traversing slot system (19), while the other is connected to the right hand side of the traversing slot system (20).

Therefore the package formed on the bobbin (1) wound by means of the traversing slot system (19) and the package formed on the bobbin (7) wound by means of the traversing slot system (20) are on opposite positions where the tail is wound up in the direction in which the filaments are wound on the respective bobbins.

The twist caused when the filament taken out from the package wound on the right hand bobbin (1) and the twist caused when the filament taken out from the package wound on the left hand bobbin (7) are in opposite directions.

Therefore, when textile material is woven by using the above described two kinds of packages, filaments whose relaxed twists are in different directions are present in the textile, and the quality of the product suffers accordingly.

In particular, when the lateral cross-sectional surface of the filament is a deformed cross-sectional surface (such as trilobal), there is a substantial possibility that lustrous spots will be produced in the final product.

However, when a traversing roller of FIG. 10 is used in the apparatus of FIG. 9, the above mentioned drawback can be eliminated.

The filament is taken up on the bobbins (l) and (7) bymeans of the left hand traverse slot system (A) and the right hand traverse slot system (B).

When the traversing center guide (26) is moved above the central position of the right hand traverse slot system (B), at the time point when the bobbin (1) The filament is taken up after being traversed by the traverse slots (91) and (92), and when the bobbin (7) becomes full, the switching over of filaments must be carried out.

When the switching over of filaments is desired to be carried out from the right hand traverse slot system (B) to the left hand traverse slot system (A), it is necessary to transfer the traversing center guide (26) to a location perpendicularly above the left hand tail-catching slot (93) provided on the leftmost end portion of the traverse roller (85).

By so doing, the tail-catching of the filament 15) is carried out on the same side of the package as occurs in the case of the right hand traverse slot system (B).

When the traversing center guide (26) is moved from (I) to (IV) in FIG. 9, the filament (15) passes through the transferring slot (94) and the intersection (88) from theintersection (90), and further passes through the shortest route, i.e., through the traverse slot- (95) and the filament guide slot (96), and arrives at the left hand tail-catching slot (93).

After having taken up thefilament as tail on the left end portion of the bobbin (1), when the traversing center guide (26) is turned back from the position (IV) perpendicularly above the tail-catching slot (93) to the position (V) above the central portion of the left hand traverse slot system (A), the filament passes through the filament slot (97) and enters the left hand traverse slot system (A), and the winding of the filament is initiated.

Thus, when the filament is switched over from the right hand traverse slot system (B) to the left hand traverse slot (A), the filament (15) takenup during the time while it passes through'the traverse slot (95) is present as waste in the innermost layer of the package (2) to be taken up on the bobbin (1), but such waste does not make any trouble when the package is used.

As described so far, when the traversing roller of the type shown in FIG. '10 is used, the problem of tailcatching which is a drawback brought about when the traversing roller of such a type as is shown in FIG. 4 is used, can be solved, and by so doing the tail can be accurately taken up on the same side portion as the bobbin, and thus it is possible to carry out the continuous operation of weaving smoothly without dividing the packages in continuously unwinding the packages by connecting the yarn end of the package to the tail.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention is explained in accordance with FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 is of such a type that when filament is transferred, overstepping of filament from the respective slots of the traversing roller can be prevented or the passing of filament into a slot other than the predetermined slot can be prevented by providing an in-out guide. In principle the technical idea is the same as the aforementioned counter measures for preventing misrunning insofar as the speed of movement of the traversing center guide is faster than the speed of the filament moving on the traversing roller- However, in accordance with this embodiment the adjustment of these two speeds is car ried out by using the in-out guide to project the in-out guide below the traversing center guide in such a way that the transition of filament in the axial direction of the traversing roller can be controlled, and thereafter the traversing center guide is moved to the predetermined position relative to the opposite side traversing slot, and then the in-out guide is pulled in, and the filament is made to run along the transferring slot by utilizing the tension working on the traversing center guide which has already completed the transition, as a result of which the filament is caused to be moved to the opposite side traversing slot. t

There is no essential difference between the device shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 from the device shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 except for the fact that'the in-out guide is provided in the device of FIGS. 1 l, 12 and 13.

Therefore, in regard to the details of the structure, and the operations of the device of FIGS. 1 1, l2 and 13 the descriptions of the device in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 will be considered sufficient and will not be repeated in detail.

In FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, (26) is the traversing center guide and the traversing center guide is moved by the shift lever (24). g

(101) is the in-out guide; it is placed in between the traversing roller (16) and the transferring center guide (26). Said in-out guide (101) is projected forwardly as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 11 when filament is switched over. During the normal take-up operation it is withdrawn toward the rear portion of the device.

In the device of FIGS. 11 13, the filament (15) passes through the traversing center guide (26) provided above the central portion of the left hand traverse system, and while being traversed by the traversing roller (16) the filament is taken up on the bobbin 1 i When filament is switched over to the right hand traverse system, the in-out guide (101) is projected forward, and then as is shown in FIG. 12, the position of the traversing center guide is switched over to the right side.

By this operation, the filament (15) is temporarily supported by the in-out guide without being directly moved to the right hand empty bobbin (7 and is taken up on the bobbin (1).

At the point in time when the end of the traversing center guide (26) has moved completely from the left hand traverse system to the right hand traverse system, the in-out guide is retracted, and the filament (15) is overstepped from the above mentioned in-out guide (101) and it is directly moved to the right hand traverse system through the transfer slot (21).

The in-out guide (101) is connected to a driving device (103) provided behind the wall (102).

On the other hand, when the filament is transferred from the right hand traverse system to the left hand traverse system, the operations of the shift lever (24) and the in-out guide (101) are carried out in the same order as in the preceding operation, and the filament is transferred to the left hand traverse system by using the transferring slot (22).

It is necessary that interval (L) (FIG. 12) of the inout guide be larger than the width (C) of the transfer slot system (FIG. 4), and at the same time, it should be smaller than the interval between the two extreme static positions of the traversing center guide (26).

The in-out guide (101) is not necessarily a unitary structure but it can be composed of rods arranged to move in and out at two places, as appears in detail in FIG. 18.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention is explained in accordance with FIG. 14.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 14 is of such a type that the respective bobbins at the take-up portions are sup,- ported with two arms at both ends, i.e., of the dual type.

Generally speaking, when the bobbin is rotated with the drive roller contacting the surface of the bobbin, the support of the bobbin is preferably of the dual type as is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, rather than supported from one end as is shown in FIG. 1.

However, in the case of the dual type bobbin, the interval of the two take-up portions is apt to be widened in view of the structure thereof, and this is a disadvantageous factor for transferring the filament.

The apparatus which is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 has been created by taking this point into consideration. In the apparatus of FIG. 14, a transferring guide and a stopper guide are provided in combination with the dually supported bobbins.

Traversing rollers (16) are provided, as is described in detail in FIG. 4, in correspondence to the positions of two bobbins, and the traversing center guide (26) is capable of changing positions freely right and left at the upper portion of the respective take-up positions.

The bobbin supporting arms (111), (112) of the takeup portions are of the dual type so advantageous for the surface drive system.

Said bobbin supporting arms (111) and (112) are provided with switching guides (113), (l 14) supported movably on the arms (111), (112) through shafts (115) and (l 16).

In addition, it is so arranged that the switching guides (113) and (114) can be interlocked by the movement of the bobbin supporting arms (111) and (112) by a mechanism prepared by connecting the gears (117) and (118) provided on the shafts (115) and (116) to the gears (119) and (120) provided on the supporting portion of the bobbin supporting arms (111) and l 12).

When the bobbin supporting arms (111) and (112) are turned in the direction in which the bobbin supporting arms (111) and (112) are moved from the drive roller (12), the switch guides (113), (114) are moved by means of chains (121), (122) in such a direction that switch guides (113) and (114) are present between the bobbin (1) or (7) and the drive roller 12).

Switch guides (113) and (114) have stoppers (123) and (124) respectively on the right and left ends of the guide portion, in parallel with the axial direction of the bobbin (1) or bobbin (7 When bobbins (1), for example, becomes full, it is disconnected from the drive roller (12) along with the bobbin supporting arm (1 1 1); the switch guide (1 13) is simultaneously moved to the middle of the full bobbin (1) and the traversing roller (16) from the upper portion of the bobbin with the shaft (115) as the fulcrum.

In this case, the running filament (15) having passed through the traversing center guide (26) is contacted against the guide portion of the switch guide (113), and is taken up on the full bobbin (1) which rotates by inerha.

The filament (15) is going to be moved to the empty bobbin (7) in view of the traversing center guide (26) having moved to the right hand, but in this apparatus, the stopper (123) is provided on the right end of the switch guide (113), and therefore the filament is stopped by the stopper (123), and keeps on with the result that the filament is taken up on the right hand end portion of the package of the full bobbin (1) without being allowed to fall from the end surface of the package (2).

Therefore, there is no possibility that yarn breakage be brought about by the change of tension attributable to falling of the yarn.

The filament (15) is caught by the yarn catching click (126) on the end surface of the empty bobbin (7) running while the filament (15) is running to the bobbin (1) through the stopper (123) from the traversing center guide (26) having moved to the center of the upper portion of the right hand take-up portion, and the filament (15 is moved to the traversing slot (20) without causing misrunning from the crossing point (23) of the traversing roller (16).

When the traverse and winding of the filament onto the bobbin (7) are initiated, the filament (15) is cut off under tension between the full bobbin (1) and the yarn catching click (126), to terminate the switch-over.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 as well as in FIGS. 7 and 9, when the filament is transferred on the traversing roller, the filament sometimes tends to misrun but as mentioned before, this problem has been solved by this invention, preferably by controlling the transfer speed of the shift lever (the traversing center guide) to be faster than the speed of the filament passing across the traversing roller; the adjustment of the transfer speed of said shift lever can be carried out easily by taking into consideration the size of the traversing roller (diameter, traverse width, the width of the transferring slot system), the distance between the traversing roller and the traversing center guide, and the speed of the running filament, and the traverse speed, etc.

Various devices may be used as the driving means for carrying out the shaking movement or the reciprocal movement of the shift lever. Any conventional means for providing a shaking movement or reciprocal movement generally employed in the field where winding or handling running filament is handled, can be preferably used; a suitable electric means is shown in FIG. 16 and can be preferably used as a concrete example.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the swing motion mechanism of the shift lever (24).

The shift lever (24) has a traversing center guide (26) on its end. The gear (131) is fixed on the other end of lever (24), and the chain (132) is engaged in said gear (131).

On both ends of the magnetically operable chain (132) bars (133) and (134) are provided. Bars (133) and (134) are placed in the electro-magnetic circuits (135) and (136) in such a manner that said bars can be freely shifted in and out.

Electro-magnetic circuit (135) is operated when the left hand bobbin (1) becomes full, to cause the bar (134) internally, to move the chain (132), to rotate the gear (131), and to swing the shift lever (24).

The adjustment of the swing speed of the shift lever (24) can be easily carried out by selecting the diameter ofthe gear (131).

In the above described case, when the shift lever (26) is desired to be swung in the opposite direction, the'same operation is only required by means of the electro-magnetic circuit (135), bar (133), chain (132) and the gear (131).

On the other hand, the moving of the in-out guide (101) described in connection with FIG. 11, can be preferably carried out by any conventional means, but two concrete examples are given in FIG. 17 showing an embodiment where an air cylinder is used, and also in FIG. 18 showing an embodiment where an electromagnet is used.

nected to the rod (139) connected to the piston (138) in the air cylinder (137) provided behind the board (102), and is operated by the movement of air into and out of the air conduits (140) and (141).

As is shown in FIG. 18, the end of the guide (101) is connected differently than in FIG. 17, but its end portions project out from the board (102).

The guide bars are connected at the back surface of the board (102) into one, and are connnected to the electro-magnetically operated rod (143) and their inout operation can be carried out by the operation of the electro-magnetic circuit (142).

The in-out guide (102) as is shown in FIG. 18 is more advantageous when attached to the apparatus through the board (102), than the in-out guide (102) as is shown in FIG. 17.

On the other hand, when the shaking movement of the arm supporting the bobbin is carried out the driving means in which air cylinder or electro-magnet is used, and when the respective portions of movements of the apparatus are connected by electric signal, or when the The in-out guide (101) as is shown in FIG. 17 is conlimit switch and photoelectric tubes are combined, the

automatic operation of the apparatus of the present invention can be more easily carried out. Thus, the continuous automatic winding of running filament can be completed.

The following is claimed:

1. Filament winding apparatus including supply means forming a filament feed path,

a. means forming a pair of take-up positions arranged right and left as a pair, each of said take-up positions including 0-1. a bobbin for taking up the filament and a-2. means for rotating said bobbin;

- b. a traversing roller arranged along said filament feed path and extending in correspondence to both of said take-up portions, said traversing roller including b-I a pair of endless traversing slots arranged to receive and to guide said filament for traversing said filament between said take-up positions, and I b-2. a pair of alternately intersecting transfer slots arranged for connecting said traversing slots;

c. means for rotating said traversing roller in a predetermined direction;

d.atrav ersing center guide; and e. driving means or alternately shifting said traversing center guide against said two take-up positions.

2. Filament winding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of each of said two transfer slots is connected to each of said traversing slots through a tail-catching slot.

3. Filament winding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said roller further includes a first tail-catching slot (89) positioned between said pair of transfer slots (87) (94) and one of said traversing slots (91) (92), and a second tail-catching slot (93) positioned outside the other one of said traversing slots (95) and is coupled to said pair of transfer slots (87) (94) through filament guide slots (96) (97) and said other one of said traversing slots (95). 

1. Filament winding apparatus including supply means forming a filament feed path, a. means forming a pair of take-up positions arranged right and left as a pair, each of said take-up positions including a-1. a bobbin for taking up the filament and a-2. means for rotating said bobbin; b. a traversing roller arranged along said filament feed path and extending in correspondence to both of said take-up portions, said traversing roller including b-1. a pair of endless traversing slots arranged to receive and to guide said filament for traversing said filament between said take-up positions, and b-2. a pair of alternately intersecting transfer slots arranged for connecting said traversing slots; c. means for rotating said traversing roller in a predetermined direction; d. a traversing center guide; and e. driving means for alternately shifting said traversing center guide against said two take-up positions.
 2. Filament winding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of each of said two transfer slots is connected to each of said traversing slots through a tail-catching slot.
 3. Filament winding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said roller further includes a first tail-catching slot (89) positioned between said pair of transfer slots (87) (94) and one of said traversing slots (91) (92), and a second tail-catching slot (93) positioned outside the other one of said traversing slots (95) and is coupled to said pair of transfer slots (87) (94) through filament guide slots (96) (97) and said other one of said traversing slots (95). 